Old Photos and Acid

I removed old pictures with Undu and never had a problem. They had been in an old album from the 40's. (some had been put in with bandage tape! The Undu did not harm any picture although it does smell.

The OP isn't asking for how to remove the pictures from the album - he or she is describing pictures that have already fallen out but still have traces of glue on them. Un-Du might help with that but I would be concerned about damage to the photos - not from the Un-Du itself, but from any rubbing needed to coax the bits off after they've been doused with Un-Du.

I repeat...I put the Undu ON the picture itself...actually soaked it and it did not harm the picture. Unless it is liquid glue Undu will take it off the picture. Although no rubbing is a good idea but gently wipe it off.

Yes the UNDU is fine.

Last night I could not think of this product I'm adding to pick up adhesive as well.

• southgirl Said:

I understand that. I've also used Un-Du on photos, and I know that the Un-Du itself does not harm them. But I've also used it on other products, with very stubborn dry adhesives, and have had to be rather rough to get the stubborn adhesive free. That's where my concern is - the physical effort that might get exerted on the photos to get the 45-year-old adhesive to release.

I recommend having the pictures professionally scanned and reprinted.

OH YES good point you should do that as well

Ok, I have UnDu for a stick issue. Is there some kind of archival spray to keep the picture from yellowing more? I am scanning and copying the important pictures.

I guess what I need to know is if the acid on the back that is left is still acidic. I don't want to ruin them more.

There is no spray like that I ame awar of. If you get as much of the sticky off as possible using these tools and them store them in acid free sheet protectors or containers, they should not deteriorate further. The old plastic in the old albums was a big culprit. The ones you want in albums, the page protectors you would find here will be aci free. I use Boxes like these to organize over 5000 of ours. The box I like is by Iris and holds 1800 photos.

So getting the old flakey glue and tape off is the best you can do. Taking a digital scan of the originals like you are doing is wise too and easier to share with people. I do genealogy research and I tell family I don't want the originals! Scans are welcomed!

• NMlady Said:

I would definitely recommend the same thing. Scanned, safely backed up somewhere, and reprinted for scrapping. My rule is, NEVER scrap one-of-a-kind original photos; keep them somewhere safe and scrapbook with copies.

You all have helped me so much! So the acid isn't in the glue, but the plastic it was covered with? Just checking to be sure. I am only scanning and reprinting those that are important to my loved ones. My grandfather took many pictures of things that aren't family related, but him relate.

The acid will be in the glue as well. Basically it is unlikely that any of the materials they used then were archival; the paper, albums, adhesive. You can't do anything about the paper the photo was printed on, but you can stop any further acid degrading the photos by removing them from anything acidic.

Acid will break down the papers and the images - eventually over years. It won't happen overnight! The yellowing is caused by lignin (plant fibre) reacting with light.

So to preserve them as best you can, remove the old adhesive from the backs, and store them in archival boxes out of the light.

You're lucky - what a treasure trove!